smp20 Posted April 8, 2020 Author Share Posted April 8, 2020 Before we look back on the season we have one final game to play. This time, we're not the underdogs by any stretch. Estoril cannot be underestimated, they beat Benfica home and away this season. Cup final time!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted April 8, 2020 Author Share Posted April 8, 2020 Drab game so far, we had a goal disallowed for handball but other than that nothing for either side. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted April 8, 2020 Author Share Posted April 8, 2020 65 mins and Estoril break the deadlock. 3-4-3 direct time!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted April 8, 2020 Author Share Posted April 8, 2020 We got one back but then they pipped one back with 5 mins to play and held on. No treble this season. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted April 9, 2020 Author Share Posted April 9, 2020 Results Sept-Nov ~ Results Jan-March ~ Results April-May ~ League Table Massive steps in our progress this season including our first domestic trophy in the Taca da Liga and a best ever 2nd place finish just 6 points off the dominant Benfica. Of course the highlight of the season was winning the Europa League, beating Sevilla, Betis, Lazio along the way to Newcastle in the final at Celtic Park. It was a shame we couldn't top off the season with a Taca de Portugal trophy but notorious 'giant killers' Estoril pipped us to it. Player Stats Top 6 Profiles - Proper ~ Rivaldo ~ Semedo ~ Pinheiro ~ Mendes ~ Sanusi Dirk Proper was the star of the season, wrapping up awards for both the club and the league, proving to be the perfect replacement for Vitor Ferreira. Pedro Mendes finished as our top scorer with 19 goals, of which double figures were in the league. The rest of our strikers shared the goals around, while our wide players were the only one's to disappoint likely due to having less space to play in than previous seasons. Alfa Semedo was our 'signing of the season' continuing his good loan form into becoming our enforcer. There have been a lot of changes over the 4 seasons, however one real constant has been Zaidu Sanusi at left back who is forever consistent. With just shy of 60 games in all competitions and a heavy load in the second half the season we relied on a lot of rotation and I'm pleased with how we coped, though I hope fixture congestion never gets this bad again! Transfers Overview Here's a look at all the transfers in and out this season. I realise I did Rafael Ramos and Thiago Santana a disservice by not mentioning that they were sold. Santana was our top scorer for the first two seasons while Ramos was first choice right back for the first two seasons and battled Costinha last season. Both made over 100 appearances and left for a combined £5m, sad to see them go but as we've progressed they found their way down the pecking order. The sale of Lovric was well document, Veron stepped up but didn't score as frequently as Lovric was able to offer. Of course our big signings were wonderkid's Boquita and Pinheiro, enforcer Semedo and baller Rivaldo (Coetzee now removed from his name), while Caue Santos was a bargain addition and we've added to our youth sides. I'm not expecting to sign many players next season unless my arm is forced with sales; a reminder that our budget has been splashed on Diego Valenzuela who I'm hoping can take us to the next level. Facilities Further development this season and more to come with facilities upgrades due to be completed in a few months. Hopefully we can up our recruitment to exceptional too and hope for some tidy players through the academy. Finances We're not what you'd consider a 'rich' club, but we're in a solid position and we're able to keep ploughing money into our facilities. Valenzuela's arrival will wipe out a big chunk, but we've got CL money to come in too. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted April 9, 2020 Author Share Posted April 9, 2020 Exceptional Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted April 9, 2020 Author Share Posted April 9, 2020 The Mexican Beast has arrived - hopefully will prove the fans wrong that we've overpaid. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted April 9, 2020 Author Share Posted April 9, 2020 Absolutetly delighted to have brought Cristiano Ronaldo to the Azores, he wanted to head back to Portugal. This may be his last season unless I can convince him to keep going until he's 40, but he is still world class and of course will be our captain. I'm thinking of using him as a Ramdauter or a Complete Forward. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted April 9, 2020 Author Share Posted April 9, 2020 Also the first time I've seen a leadership course have such a positive influence Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted April 9, 2020 Author Share Posted April 9, 2020 20 years on from leaving Sporting Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted April 9, 2020 Author Share Posted April 9, 2020 Hardly a pretty game, but a 1-0 win with a Ronaldo pen means he lifts his first trophy for Santa Clara as captain! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
noikeee Posted April 9, 2020 Share Posted April 9, 2020 Are you trying to assemble the 2002 Brazil World Cup team with Ronaldo and Rivaldo? Massive progress with Santa Clara, another European trophy, awesome! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingjericho Posted April 9, 2020 Share Posted April 9, 2020 This save is becoming epic! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HugoLazgo12 Posted April 9, 2020 Share Posted April 9, 2020 holy god you signed cristiano ronaldo on free transfer i guess portuguese big teams in liga nos just dont want him so what your prediction on santa clara this season win the league or finishing 3rd place Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted April 10, 2020 Author Share Posted April 10, 2020 15 hours ago, noikeee said: Are you trying to assemble the 2002 Brazil World Cup team with Ronaldo and Rivaldo? Massive progress with Santa Clara, another European trophy, awesome! Haha, I've just reminded myself of all the players in the squad to see if I can pick up any other similar names - cheers, that's all of the European trophies won except the Champions League... 15 hours ago, kingjericho said: This save is becoming epic! Thanks 14 hours ago, HugoLazgo12 said: holy god you signed cristiano ronaldo on free transfer i guess portuguese big teams in liga nos just dont want him so what your prediction on santa clara this season win the league or finishing 3rd place I think we just got in there first as soon as he'd been released, he would have walked into any team! I'm really hoping this is the season we can pip Benfica to the title Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted April 10, 2020 Author Share Posted April 10, 2020 August 2023 Update A good start to the season has been spoiled by two poor results away from home. We really should have been coming away with all 12 points this month, though winning the Super Cup was of course a highlight. A tough group in the CL. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
noikeee Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 Don't worry about the Champions League group, looks like you have peak Penaldo on form, just need to bribe those refs to keep giving spot kicks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted April 10, 2020 Author Share Posted April 10, 2020 September 2023 Update Hold on, hold on, the wheels have come off! A run of 4 defeats is absolutely shocking. We picked up with a win vs Sporting but I'd say our chances of pushing for the title have been ruined early on!!! Our star defender breaking his toe doesn't help. We've missed Pedro Mendes and Valenzuela was crap before getting injured. FFS. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
john1 Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 Absolutely insane to sign Ronaldo Tough Champions League group, should be able to nick few wins Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted April 10, 2020 Author Share Posted April 10, 2020 A good news story Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
deltablue Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 Great to see you add another couple of trophies, and get in Valenzuela. Mexican forwards are best forwards, unless you sell them to Bayern Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted April 10, 2020 Author Share Posted April 10, 2020 43 minutes ago, john1 said: Absolutely insane to sign Ronaldo Tough Champions League group, should be able to nick few wins Yeah it's a real coup - but we're struggling so far in CL football 34 minutes ago, deltablue said: Great to see you add another couple of trophies, and get in Valenzuela. Mexican forwards are best forwards, unless you sell them to Bayern Cheers, I can't remember having a Mexican forward since wonderkid Carlos Fierro Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted April 10, 2020 Author Share Posted April 10, 2020 October 2023 Update We're out of the Taca de Liga with back to back losses and so far just 1 point and 1 goal (Penaldo) in the CL at the midway point. On a positive note, we're through in the cup vs 3rd tier Caldas and bear Rio Ave on our travels. Hardly title inspiring form at the moment Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
john1 Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 Hopefully you can turn it around! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted April 10, 2020 Author Share Posted April 10, 2020 November 2023 Update Now THAT is more like it - a 100% record, plenty of goals and just two conceded. Of course the two CL wins overshadow anything we've done domestically and UrCristiano has scored in every game this month taking his tally to 18 goals in 20 games. Benfica are smashing it, as are Maritimo who's only loss comes to Benfica. We'd do well to catch them. After a terrible start to our CL campaign we've turned it around and have a chance of going through to the knockouts if we beat Schalke and Sevilla fail to win at Anfield. Worst case scenario is Europa League football. It seems that the only thing Ronaldo is interested in doing now is finding the back of the net. He's being used as a poacher now and he's doing exactly what the role entails. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted April 10, 2020 Author Share Posted April 10, 2020 December 2023 Update Another month with a 100% record, making up for our shoddy early season form. The only side that Ronaldo hasn't scored against in the last two months is CD Nacional, the club where he started out as a kid. Must have been going easy on them . The win against Schalke secured us 2nd place in our group and our draw for the knockouts could not be much harder! We're now back into the title race, which at this point looks like it could be one of four clubs, two from the islands and the two giants. Of course Ronaldo's record stands out, scoring just shy of a goal a game. Dirk Proper continues to excel in midfield. It's confirmed, I couldn't convince him to give us another season so this will be Ronaldo's last ever. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted April 10, 2020 Author Share Posted April 10, 2020 New centre back in, he is the ideal partner for Rivaldo and i think he will live up to his name of being 'Evil'. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted April 10, 2020 Author Share Posted April 10, 2020 Proper wasn't a player I wanted to lose, but Bayern accepted my negotiation of £50m upfront and £50m in installments and that kind of money you can't turn down . We will need to find a direct replacement for him. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HugoLazgo12 Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 well god damn it santa clara are gonna out of race title at ronaldo special retirement he could win the league in portuguese league with island team but benfica is too strong to handle them shame about ronaldo dreams chances of santa clara to become first island team to win the league is gonna be ruined by benfica if they lose to them again ronaldo deserve to finish at least winning the portuguese title Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted April 10, 2020 Author Share Posted April 10, 2020 And here is Proper's replacement 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted April 11, 2020 Author Share Posted April 11, 2020 January 2024 Update Transfers A relatively busy month with 4 in and 4 out. The big sale was obviously Dirk Proper, while Gil and Goncalves were allowed to leave and Araujo's release clause was met. We've seen Proper's replacement, Pedrinho, and our new wonderkid centre back Evilasio but here are the other two: Moise Kean was brought in as injury cover for Gabriel Veron and Boquita and will provide a rotation option. He adds something a little different to Goncalves so we let him go. Batalha arrives on loan from Roma. He came through Benfica's academy and was recently snapped up by Roma. I just wish we got there first, as he is from the island Results Another excellent month with a good away point against Benfica, just a shame we only got a point against Tondela. That's 3 months unbeaten in all comps now Table We're just two points behind Benfica now, however they do have 2 games in hand. Sporting won 7 games in a row in January and are now back in the picture, while Maritimo have fallen a bit. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted April 11, 2020 Author Share Posted April 11, 2020 15 hours ago, HugoLazgo12 said: well god damn it santa clara are gonna out of race title at ronaldo special retirement he could win the league in portuguese league with island team but benfica is too strong to handle them shame about ronaldo dreams chances of santa clara to become first island team to win the league is gonna be ruined by benfica if they lose to them again ronaldo deserve to finish at least winning the portuguese title I think with our recent form there is still a chance of Cristiano lifting the title, of course we face Benfica in our final game Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted April 11, 2020 Author Share Posted April 11, 2020 February 2024 Update 4 out of 4 wins in the league, aggregate win in the cup semi to get through to face Benfica in the final and a draw with Real Madrid keeps our form going. Ronaldo was out injured for 3 weeks hence his lack of goals, but Valenzuela has been stepping up as our goalscorer now. We're still waiting on Benfica slipping up, fingers crossed they do soon and we can keep going. This doesn't bode well for Rivaldo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted April 11, 2020 Author Share Posted April 11, 2020 Sorry, not sorry Poch Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted April 11, 2020 Author Share Posted April 11, 2020 March 2024 Update 3 wins and a draw in the league, the draw being disappointing at home as we can't afford to drop points. We went out 6-4 on aggregate to Real Madrid who just proved to be too strong. Still just 3 points behind Benfica and they only have 1 game in hand now. They drew 2 games this month. Youth Intake A very poor intake... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted April 11, 2020 Author Share Posted April 11, 2020 April 2024 Update Another 100% month but it's not enough to gain on Benfica who won 4 and got a draw in their game in hand over us. We go into the final 2 games needed to beat CD Nacional, while hoping Benfica fail to win at home to Famalicao. We face Benfica in the final game of the season. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PT-KK Posted April 11, 2020 Share Posted April 11, 2020 it's hard to see that you might lose the league due to a poor beginning. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted April 11, 2020 Author Share Posted April 11, 2020 17 minutes ago, PT-KK said: it's hard to see that you might lose the league due to a poor beginning. It's confirmed Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
john1 Posted April 11, 2020 Share Posted April 11, 2020 Gutted you sold Proper! However, 100M is amazing and I would have accepted it too! I even signed him for my save too Fantastic you only lost by goals against Real Madrid Sadly you couldn't convince Ronaldo to stay on for another season Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted April 11, 2020 Author Share Posted April 11, 2020 1 hour ago, john1 said: Gutted you sold Proper! However, 100M is amazing and I would have accepted it too! I even signed him for my save too Fantastic you only lost by goals against Real Madrid Sadly you couldn't convince Ronaldo to stay on for another season Yeah I didn't want to lose him either, but that kind of money is ridiculous and replaced him well with wonderkid Pedrinho. Wasn't a bad effort for Madrid, now it's cup final time which will be Ronaldo's last ever game. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted April 11, 2020 Author Share Posted April 11, 2020 (edited) We win a bit of pride by beating Benfica in the final league game, Ronaldo of course grabbing the goal. Hopefully we can beat them in the cup final!!! Edited April 11, 2020 by smp20 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted April 11, 2020 Author Share Posted April 11, 2020 Come on Santa! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted April 11, 2020 Author Share Posted April 11, 2020 The teams are out and ready. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
john1 Posted April 11, 2020 Share Posted April 11, 2020 Come on Santa Clara! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted April 11, 2020 Author Share Posted April 11, 2020 11 mins in, Nelson Semedo tees Valenzuela up for volley and he smashes it top bins, 1-0! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted April 11, 2020 Author Share Posted April 11, 2020 It's a dream start, 14 mins, Ronaldo volley 2-0!!! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted April 11, 2020 Author Share Posted April 11, 2020 30 mins, Veron nods it down to Ronaldo, smashes it, 3-0!!! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted April 11, 2020 Author Share Posted April 11, 2020 Benfica snuck in a tap-in, before Ronaldo confirmed his hat-trick with a trademark free kick. 4-1 at HT 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
smp20 Posted April 11, 2020 Author Share Posted April 11, 2020 A trademark Ronaldo penalty to put the game 100% to bed, 5-1 87th minute. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
john1 Posted April 11, 2020 Share Posted April 11, 2020 Wow what an final swansong for Ronaldo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now